Theuerdarnk Nearly Shoots Himself with a Crossbow, from [Theuerdank] Die geuerlicheiten vnd einsteils der geschichten des loblichen streytparen vnd hochberümbten helds vnd Ritters herr Tewrdannckhs 1517

Hans Burgkmair created this woodcut, "Theuerdank Nearly Shoots Himself with a Crossbow," as part of a series of illustrations for a chivalric romance commissioned by Emperor Maximilian I in the early 16th century. Reflecting the cultural values and aristocratic ideals of the Renaissance, this work portrays a scene of courtly life, with the central figure, Theuerdank, narrowly escaping an accident during a hunt. The incident reveals a moment of vulnerability beneath the veneer of noble prowess, typical of the era’s emphasis on personal character and moral trials. The intricate details of the figures' clothing and the forest setting are not merely decorative; they embed the narrative in a world defined by social status and the natural environment. Does the near miss reflect an underlying anxiety about the precariousness of life and fortune, despite one's social standing?